The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-13
CLEVELAND AND THE G. 4. r.
Gen. w. T. Sherman Writes Letter
Concerning the st. Louis Quarrel.
Sure the President Will Not Be Insulted,
and Offers TO Pledge His Life to That Ef-
fect-Pointed and Characteristic Talk.
trro,n our second ydition Of lsunday.


ST. LOUIS June II-Gen. John A Noble and
Col D. T. Dyer two prominent members of the
Grand Army of the Republic of this city. re-
ceived a long letter to- day from General Sher-
man. in which he discusses at some length, the
recent muddIe regarding the invitation to Presi-
dent Cleveland to visit st. Louis during the
Grand Army encampment next fall. The ma
terial points of the letter are as follows
''The rumor of your troubles in St Louis
reached me by telegraph, and has lost nothing
by distance / believe we here In New YORK now
understand the facts, that the Grand Army of
the Republic holds its next annual encampment
ut St Louis on the last Wednesday of Septem-
ber 1887; that great fair OF the valley OF the
Mississippi begins on Monday, Oct. 2; that
the best citizens of ST. Louis have invited
many prominent men to be the guests OF their
city the accidental coincidence OF tnese TWO
important events among these being the Presi-
dent of common country. Grover Cleveland,
his family and suite. The Grand Army of the
Republic ia composed exclusively of men who
served in the army and navy of the Union, 70
which Mr.. Cleveland does not belong, and there
fore he cannot participate IN any OF ,he pro
ceedings but the moment the Grano army
emerges from its hall of dehberation, 1t De-
comes, like the Freemasons, Odd-fellows
and other societies of good meu associated Tor
noble purpose. a part of the general community.
,ubiect TO the laws and usages OF that commun-
lty. Mr. Cleveland, tho President of the United
States by a fair election OF all our people, com
mauderinchief of the army and navy or the
United States, is free to come and go wherever
the Jurisdiction of this, our national, govern
ment extends. He may visit any ;T, Iors
DR. ship, where the national flag VIII
be lowered to manifest respect TO him
and his Office and should foreign
ship fail to do him full honors none WIN oe SO
quick resent insult as the members OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic who periled me
and limb to make that flag respected at home
and abroad. The idea OF his being insulteo
much less endangered should ne be on the stand
alongside of our commander-in-chlet. Ueneral
Fairchild. when the Grand Army is passing
,hr IN review seen seems tSs 10 me iowa boys
we'll to believe such thing posslble. brave
men are never ungenerous. and the Iowa soldiers
were brave men. know 1t OF knowledge ac.
quired in battle, and l will pledge my life that
no Iowa soldier will do SO unmanly an act and
should Mr.. Cleveland accent the invitation,
which hope he will, to attend the parade OF the
Grand Army of the Republic at St. Louis on the
28th Of September next. will stand by his side
and march past in the ranks of Ransom fost' as
may be ordered by General Falrchlld
Il notice with pain that the Presidents action
on certain bills enters into this unhappy contro-
versy. There were many private bills, ana s one
of general nature, which the President vetoed
The Consultation of the United States compel 8
the President TO approve or veto @ eacn
separate bill as 1t reaches @ nun rom L
law; if vetoed, 1t requires an increased
majority OF Congress to pass 1t; but the Presi-
dent only account for his Judgment oy ms
own conceptlon Of duty to his country aud TO
his God We as soldiers. must submit 70 II, De
cause it is the law. l do not believe TINS gov
ever De 100 CHaritooio
the old soldiers. wounded, or
in distress by and inhrmlty ana
had been near Mr.. Cleveland L would not nave
ventured TO advise him on the general oll out
as to the private cases | would have said: Char
ity enters largely into all pensions ana when
any special bills have passed the ordeal OF the
committees Of the Senate ana house' @ app'tsE I'll
them; but on the general bill, exercise your 1ulL
constitutional power Honest men differ wldely
on this question of pensions to old and ieeole
comrades We want to do what Is right ou'
differ as to the means. All we know IS tna'
twenty odd years after the civil war, the govern
ment or the United States. under RepuplcAn
and Democratic rule, pays out TO our olo soiulers
of the Union army about 500 OO0Oo per year
and a few thousands to the Mexican war 'e1er-
ans regardless of locality and not one cent 10
the rebels of the South. whom we foughI III the
civil war We old soldiers of the civil war nave
not yet Just cause to make an issue on the ques
tion of pensions to our intlrm ana wounoeu coiii-
rades
II advise YOU to go right along. prepare tne
way for the Grand Army of the Republic at lts
pession Of Wednesday, Sept 2o. 1885, at 81
Louis and receive them as they deserves
honored guests; also the President OF the
United States with such other nonored euesls
as may grace the occasion. If any OF our CON
rades feel hurt at the association they can re
main at home but the will rise next morn
ing the seasons will follow each other in quick
succession, and the world with lts msriauS o'
people will 90 rig ht along all the same
II et MS do right as near as we know how, and
trust the future to the boys who look on us o.e
veterans as prodigIes, or old togies, lingering